The Fernwood Eco-Cemetery Offers Natural Burial for a Green Afterlife

When it comes time to bury a loved one, our otherwise expansive worldview is often funneled down to the immediate and necessary. Thinking of the environmental impact of final arrangements is rarely a priority, but there are people out there who are trying to make it a little easier to make an eco-conscious choice when the time comes. Fernwood Cemetery is one such place, and each burial there provides an opportunity to remove invasive species and renew the landscape through the use of native plants, trees and flowers.

Fernwood itself has existed for over a century, though their natural burial offerings are fairly new. The Mill Valley, CA, establishment is a funeral home, crematory and cemetery with an underlying mission of completing a longterm land restoration project through eco-friendly burials.

In contrast to a traditional burial, which uses toxic embalming fluids, caskets lined with heavy metals and harmful finishes, and invasive excavation of the land, a natural burial uses a biodegradable casket without embalming fluids or a concrete vault. Native trees and plants are grown above the burial site, and Fernwood uses GPS to digitally keep track of gravesites. They also offer a digital “Lifestories” biography as a means of preserving memories of the deceased.

...Its funny how these blogs disiminnate information..sending you in circles
I used to check your blog daily a few months ago...I really enjoy it.. but then I fell off it...
as I was randomly brought back to it...I was actually on the internet doing some research for a design competition we are entering regarding the reconstruction of New Orleans...and...on "World Changing" there was a post about Fernwood linking to you ladies at Inhabitat.
I work for Rana Creek..The Ecological Design/ Habitat Restoration Firm doing the deisgn/build work at Fernwood as well as the green roof designers of the California Academy green roof you also featured...
Thanks for featuring these projects...we think they are compelling...
I would be happy to tell anyone more about the projects or post pictures if you tell me how.